So if I follow this correctly. Cut the rudders off with the sawzall. Weld the pieces back together. Then dig a big hole with the backhoe. Put the boat in the hole cover with dirt. File as stolen and claim insurance , and buy boat with new rudders already on it.

Wouldn't get too excited as have not seen a standard conversion yet as everybody has a different idea. I would definitely advise to glue them also. I tried to to fit them to old holes with the gudgeon upside down with catastrophic result. Now have fitted the right way up and also made a new backing plate as the plate glassed into transom does not go low enough.

After doing some research, I would just install the replacement gudgeons that came with the new rudders. There have been no reported failures from doing this upgrade. Use some backing washers and through-bolt the bottom screws where they don't hit the laminated aluminum plate.